Illuminator for a barcode scanner

ABSTRACT

An illuminator is provided, comprising a support frame arranged symmetrically around an optical axis of an optical sensor. The illuminator includes at least one light bar connected to the support frame. At least one light source is connected to the support frame, wherein each of the at least one light source is configured to direct light towards one of the opposing ends of one of the at least one light bar. The illuminator further includes a peripheral cover configured to receive light emitted from the front face of each of the at least one light bar. The peripheral cover is further configured to emit dark field illumination at a low incident angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis and to emit bright field illumination at a high incident angle with respect to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Applicationfor Invention No. 201710711469.X for an Illuminator for a BarcodeScanner filed Aug. 18, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to barcode scanners and other imagecapturing devices and more particularly relates to illumination devicesfor such image capturing devices.

BACKGROUND

Generally speaking, barcode scanners may require some type ofillumination device to illuminate a barcode to be read. The barcode mayneed to be illuminated in such a way that the scanner can accuratelyread the barcode. However, various methods of illumination may berequired based on the type of surface that the barcode is applied to andother factors.

Different products may receive different types of barcodes that areapplied in a variety of ways. For example, a direct part marking (DPM)code may be permanently applied to a product. One example of a DPM codeis an application of dot peen markings on the surface of the product.The peen markings may be applied mechanically, chemically, or using alaser. DPM codes may be applied using a stamping action, chemical orlaser etching, ablation, engraving, or other techniques having theprimary effect of creating physically offset surfaces rather thanproviding a visual contrast between those portions of the surface thatcontain bar code “lines” and portions that contain bar code “spaces.”

The proper illumination for many DPM codes may include dark fieldillumination. Dark field illumination is a type of illumination in whichlight is directed at a low incident angle to the surface of an object onwhich a code (e.g., a DPM code) is applied. In a sense, the reader orscanner may be able to more clearly read a DPM code when it isilluminated in this manner. In other situations, bright fieldillumination may be more appropriate, which involves providing light ata high incident angle with respect to the surface of the object.

Therefore, a need exists for illuminators and other types ofillumination devices for providing both dark field illumination andbright field illumination. Thus, a code (e.g., a DPM code, a barcode,etc.) can be illuminated in a way that would allow the scanner or readerto accurately read the code.

SUMMARY

In an exemplary embodiment, an illuminator according to the presentdisclosure comprises a support frame arranged symmetrically around anoptical axis of an optical sensor and at least one light bar connectedto the support frame, wherein each of the at least one light bar has twoopposing ends, two opposing edges, a front face, and a back face. Theilluminator according to this embodiment further includes at least onelight source connected to the support frame, wherein each of the atleast one light source is configured to direct light towards one of theopposing ends of one of the light bars. A peripheral cover is configuredto receive light emitted from the front face of each of the light bars.The peripheral cover is further configured to emit dark fieldillumination at a low incident angle with respect to a planeperpendicular to the optical axis and to emit bright field illuminationat a high incident angle with respect to the plane perpendicular to theoptical axis.

In another exemplary embodiment, a barcode scanner comprises a sensorconfigured to read a barcode on a surface of an object, the sensor beingdefined by an optical axis. The barcode scanner further includes anilluminator configured to provide dark field illumination at a lowincident angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axisof the sensor and to provide bright field illumination at a highincident angle with respect to the plane perpendicular to the opticalaxis. The illuminator comprises a support frame arranged symmetricallyaround the optical axis of the sensor and a plurality of light barsconnected to the support frame, where each light bar has two opposingends, two opposing edges, a front face, and a back face. The illuminatoralso includes a plurality of pairs of light sources connected to thesupport frame, each pair of light sources being configured to directlight towards opposing ends of a respective light bar. The illuminatoralso includes a peripheral cover configured to receive light emittedfrom the front face of each light bar and to emit dark fieldillumination and bright field illumination.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplaryobjectives and/or advantages of the invention, and the manner in whichthe same are accomplished, are further explained within the followingdetailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts an isometric view of an illuminator for usewith a barcode scanner, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 schematically depicts an exploded view of the illuminator of FIG.1, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 schematically depicts a cross-sectional side view of one of thelight bars shown in FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 schematically depicts a cross-sectional side view of the leftside section of the peripheral cover shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 schematically depicts an implementation of the illuminator ofFIG. 1 when installed on a barcode scanner, according to an embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention embraces various types of illuminators andillumination devices for providing low incident and high incidentillumination of a surface of an object to thereby obtain both dark fieldillumination and bright field illumination. The present invention may beimplemented in the field of barcode readers, barcode scanners, DPM codereaders, and other code and image capturing devices.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing an embodiment of an illuminator 10.The illuminator 10 may be used for providing dark field illumination aswell as bright field illumination. For example, the illuminator 10 inthe embodiment of FIG. 1 may be used with a barcode scanner to providethe dark field illumination and bright field illumination to enable thebarcode scanner to adequately capture different types of images ondifferent types of surfaces.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the illuminator 10 includes threemain sections: a peripheral cover 12, a light guiding device 14, and asupport frame 16. The support frame 16 supports light bars around aperiphery of the support frame 16 or at least on two opposite sidesthereof. The support frame 16 also supports light sources configured toilluminate the light bars. The light guiding device 14 is configured toallow light from the light bars to pass through in a controlled mannerto the peripheral cover 12. The peripheral cover 12 is configured todirect the light by reflection and refraction to provide dark fieldillumination and bright field illumination.

The peripheral cover 12, light guiding device 14, and support frame 16are arranged symmetrically to define a space 18 therebetween. Accordingto a broader embodiment, the illuminator 10 may include a cover, lightguiding device, and support frame on one side, two opposing sides, threesides, or any number of sides of a frame having any suitable shape toprovide dark field and bright field illumination. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 1, the space 18 is a rectangular opening surroundedby the peripheral cover 12, light guiding device 14, and support frame16. The space 18 may also be defined by an optical axis of a barcodescanner or other suitable optical detection device. The optical axis maybe a factor of optical elements, such as lenses, filter, etc., of theoptical detection device. In some embodiments, the illuminator 10 may bearranged such that the optical axis passes through the middle of thespace 18.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the illuminator 10 of FIG. 1 accordingto one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, theperipheral cover 12 comprises a top side leg 22, a right side leg 24, abottom side leg 26, and a left side leg 28. The legs 22, 24, 26, 28 ofthe peripheral cover 12 may be formed integrally. The cross-section ofeach leg 22, 24, 26, 28 of the peripheral cover 12 may include aV-shaped pattern. The V-shaped pattern may be designed to provide darkfield illumination and bright field illumination when light is providedto each leg 22, 24, 26, 28.

The light guiding device 14 of the illuminator 10 includes a rectangularframe comprising a top beam 32, a right beam 34, a bottom beam 36, and aleft beam 38. In some embodiments, the beams 32, 34, 36, and 38 of therectangular frame are formed integrally as one piece. The top beam 32includes a first long slit 42; the right beam 34 includes a second longslit 44; the bottom beam 36 includes a third long slit 46; and the leftbeam 38 includes a fourth long slit 48. The slits 42, 44, 46, and 48 areconfigured so as to confine the light from the support frame 16 in orderto direct the light towards the center of each leg 22, 24, 26, 28 of theperipheral cover 12.

The support frame 16 includes a rectangular frame comprising a top slat52, a right slat 54, a bottom slat 56, and a left slat 58. In someembodiments, the slats 52, 54, 56, and 58 of the rectangular frame areformed integrally as one piece. The support frame 16 supports a numberof light bars and light sources. For example, the top slat 52 supports afirst light bar 62 and a first pair of light sources 72A and 72B. Theright slat 54 supports a second light bar 64 and a second pair of lightsources 74A and 74B. The bottom slat 56 supports a third light bar 66and a third pair of light sources 76A and 76B. The left slat 58 supportsa fourth light bar 68 and a fourth pair of light sources 78A and 78B.

In some embodiments, the light sources 72A, 72B, 74A, 74B, 76A, 76B,78A, and 78B may be side-emitting light sources configured to directlight into the ends of the light bars 62, 64, 66, and 68. The lightsources 72, 74, 76, 78, for example, may be light emitting diodes (LEDs)or other suitable devices for providing light. The light bars 62, 64,66, 68 may consist of a translucent material, such as plastic, and maybe configured to provide an even distribution of light over an entirefront face of the respective light bar. More details of the light bars62, 64, 66, and 68 are provided with respect to the description of FIG.3.

Each of the light bars 62, 64, 66, 68 includes a back face. The backface of each light bar 62, 64, 66, 68 may be secured to the supportframe 16. Each of the light bars 62, 64, 66, 68 also includes two sidesand two ends. The ends of the light bars 62, 64, 66, 68 are configuredto receive light from the corresponding pairs of light sources 72A/72B,74A/74B, 76A/76B, 78A/78B. Each of the light bars 62, 64, 66, 68 alsoincludes the front face, from which light is emitted. The front face ofthe light bars 62, 64, 66, 68 are directed toward the correspondingslits 42, 44, 46, 48 of the respective beams 32, 34, 36, 38 of the lightguiding device 14.

In operation, the illuminator 10 may be controlled to provide dark fieldillumination and bright field illumination when needed, such as when anobject or a code (e.g., a barcode) is to be imaged. The illuminator 10may be illuminated during a scanning or imaging process. Also, theillumination process may involve powering the illuminator 10 onimmediately before scanning and leaving the illuminator 10 on untilafter the scanning is complete. In this way, the illuminator 10 canadequately illuminate the object to be scanned or imaged.

During illumination, power is provided to the light sources 72A, 72B,74A, 74B, 76A, 76B, 78A, and 78B to turn the sources (e.g., LEDs) on.Light from the pairs of light sources 72, 74, 76, 78 is directed intothe respective light bars 62, 64, 66, 68. The light bars 62, 64, 66, 68are configured to internally disperse light such that light is emittedfrom the front face of each of the light bars 62, 64, 66, 68 toward thelight guiding device 14. The slits 42, 44, 46, 48 of the light guidingdevice 14 only admit light being directed toward the center of the legs22, 24, 26, 28 of the peripheral cover 12. The peripheral cover thenreflects some of the light to provide dark field illumination andrefracts some of the light to provide bright field illumination.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of one of thelight bars (i.e., light bar 62) shown in FIG. 2. According to someembodiments, the other light bars 64, 66, 68 may be configured in thesame or a similar manner as depicted with respect to the embodiment ofthe light bar 62 shown in FIG. 3. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, theopposite ends of the light bar 62 are arranged to receive light from thetwo complementary light sources 72A and 72B, which direct light towardseach other from the opposite ends.

The light bar 62 may be implemented with a first substrate 82, which maybe a translucent material. In some embodiments, the light bar 62 mayalso include a second substrate 84, which may be used to support anumber of cylindrical reflectors 86A, 86B, 86C, 86D, 86E. Thecylindrical reflectors 86 may be configured with different radii. In theillustrated embodiment, the cylindrical reflector 86A, located in themiddle of the light bar 62, may have the greatest radius. The twocylindrical reflectors 86B positioned on either side of the cylindricalreflector 86A may have the next greatest radius. The two cylindricalreflectors 86C positioned on either side of those cylindrical reflectors86B may have the next greatest radius, and so on.

Although FIG. 3 depicts the light bar 62 with nine cylindricalreflectors, it should be noted that other embodiments may be realized inwhich the number of cylindrical reflectors is more than or less thannine. Also, the positioning, radius, and other factors of thecylindrical reflectors may be changed to provide an even disbursement oflight onto the front face 88 of the light bar 62.

In some embodiments, the cylindrical reflectors 86 may be replaced withpartial cylindrical elements positioned on the bottom portion of thefirst substrate 82. In this respect, the second substrate 84 may beomitted such that the flat bottom portions of the partial cylindricalelements form part of a back face of the light bar 62, the back facebeing attached to the respective slat 52 of the support frame 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, light from the light sources 72A and 72B traversesacross the interior of the first substrate 82 of the light bar 62 and isreflected off the cylindrical reflectors 86. Because of the variousangles of the cylindrical reflectors 86, the light is distributed overand emitted out of the entire front face 88 of the light bar 62.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating an embodiment of theleft side leg 28 of the peripheral cover 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.According to some embodiments, the top side leg 22, right side leg 24,and bottom side leg 26 may be configured according to the same manner inwhich the left side leg 28 is implemented, except for being rotated suchthat a straight wall of each leg is directed inward toward the space 18in the center of the illuminator 10.

Each leg 22, 24, 26, 28 may be configured as a solid transparent ortranslucent piece. As shown in FIG. 4, the solid piece that forms leg 28includes a slanted face 90 and a substantially vertical face 92. Theslanted face 90 may be angled at about 45 degrees and may be a partiallyreflective and partially refractive surface. The slanted face 90 splitsthe light into dark field illumination and bright field illumination.The bright field light is refracted through the slanted face 90. Thedark field light is reflected internally from the slanted face 90 andexits through the substantially vertical face 92.

Light from the respective light bar 68 passes through the respectiveslit 48 of the corresponding beam 38 of the light guiding device 14. Thelight passing through the slit 48 passes into the body of the left sideleg 28. Some of the light is refracted through the slanted face 90,which is directed as bright field illumination in approximately the samedirection as the optical axis that also defines an axis of theilluminator 10. Other portions of the light are reflected from theslanted face 90 and are then refracted through the vertical face 92,which are then directed as dark field illumination in a directionapproximately perpendicular to the optical axis.

The angles of the slanted face 90 and substantially vertical face 92 canbe optimally designed to achieve desirable dark field and bright fieldillumination. Also, a surface coating may be applied on the slanted face90 or on other outer surfaces of the leg 28 to achieve desirablereflective and refractive properties. The vertical face 92 may include asmall angle with respect to the optical axis to achieve refractiveproperties resulting in desirable dark field illumination.

FIG. 5 shows an implementation of the illuminator 10, whereby theilluminator 10 is installed on a barcode scanner 96. The illuminator 10may be attached to an inside portion of a window 98 of the barcodescanner 96 or may be attached to an outside portion of the window 98.The illuminator 10 may be configured to include various sizes and shapesso that the illuminator conforms to certain types of barcode scanners.The illuminator 10 may have the same dimensions as portions of thewindow 98 to allow for a proper fit. In other embodiments, theilluminator 10 may be attached to other devices in which dark fieldillumination and bright field illumination are needed, such as cameras,video cameras, imaging devices, etc.

Therefore, in light of the above description, the illuminator 10 maycomprise the support frame 14 arranged symmetrically around an opticalaxis of an optical sensor. The illuminator 10 may also comprise at leastone light bar (e.g., light bars 62, 64, 66, 68) connected to the supportframe 14, each of the light bars having two opposing ends, two opposingedges, a front face, and a back face. The illuminator 10 also includesat least one light source (e.g., light sources 72A, 72B, 74A, 74B, 76A,76B, 78A, 78B) connected to the support frame 14. Each of the lightsources 72, 74, 76, 78 is configured to direct light towards one of theopposing ends of one of the light bars 62, 64, 66, 68. The illuminator10 also includes a peripheral cover 12 configured to receive lightemitted from the front face of each of the light bars 62, 64, 66, 68.The peripheral cover 12 is further configured to emit dark fieldillumination at a low incident angle with respect to a planeperpendicular to the optical axis and to emit bright field illuminationat a high incident angle with respect to the plane perpendicular to theoptical axis.

The illuminator 10 may further comprise the light guiding device 14arranged between the support frame 16 and the peripheral cover 12. Thelight guiding device 14 may comprise a plurality of slits 42, 44, 46, 48arranged adjacent to the at least one light bar 62, 64, 66, 68. Theslits 42, 44, 46, 48 may be configured to allow light to pass from theat least one light bar 62, 64, 66, 68 to the peripheral cover 12. Thelight guiding device 14 may be configured to prevent light from passingdirectly from the at least one light source 72, 74, 76, 78 to theperipheral cover 12.

Furthermore, the support frame 16 may comprise a top panel 52, a rightpanel 54, a bottom panel 56, and a left panel 58 and may be arrangedsymmetrically around the optical axis. The first light bar 62 may beconnected to the top panel 52 of the support frame 16, the second lightbar 64 may be connected to the right panel 54 of the support frame 16,the third light bar 66 may be connected to the bottom panel 56 of thesupport frame 16, and the fourth light bar 68 may be connected to theleft panel 58 of the support frame 16.

As mentioned above, two light sources may be associated with each lightbar 62, 64, 66, 68, a first light source 72A, 74A, 76A, 78A beingconfigured to emit light towards a first end of the respective light bar62, 64, 66, 68 and a second light source 72B, 74B, 76B, 78B beingconfigured to emit light towards a second end of each of the respectivelight bars 62, 64, 66, 68. The at least one light source may comprise aplurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

Each of the at least one light bar 62, 64, 66, 68 may include aplurality of cylindrical light-reflecting elements 86 configured toreflect light from the opposing ends of the respective light bar 62, 64,66, 68 to the front face 88 of the respective light bar 62, 64, 66, 68.The cylindrical light-reflecting elements 86 may be arranged on the backface of the respective light bar 62, 64, 66, 68. The cylindricallight-reflecting elements 86 may comprise cylinders having differentradii. The cylindrical light-reflecting elements 86 are designed toachieve even light density across the entire front face of the lightbars 62, 64, 66, 68.

In some embodiments, the optical sensor may be a barcode scanner. Thebarcode scanner may be configured to read direct part marking (DPM)symbology on the surface of an object.

According to the above description, the present invention may also bedirected to the barcode scanner 96. The barcode scanner 96 in theseembodiments may comprise a sensor configured to read a barcode on asurface of an object. The sensor may be defined by an optical axis. Thebarcode scanner 96 may also include an illuminator (e.g., illuminator10) configured to provide dark field illumination at a low incidentangle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of thesensor and to provide bright field illumination at a high incident anglewith respect to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis. Theilluminator 10 may comprise the support frame 16 arranged symmetricallyaround the optical axis of the sensor. The illuminator 10 may alsocomprise one or more of the plurality of light bars 62, 64, 66, 68connected to the support frame 16, wherein each light bar has twoopposing ends, two opposing edges, a front face, and a back face. Theplurality of pairs of light sources 72A/72B, 74A/74B, 76A/76B, 78A/78Bmay be connected to the support frame 16, wherein each pair of lightsources is configured to direct light towards opposing ends of arespective light bar 62, 64, 66, 68. The illuminator 10 may also includea peripheral cover 12 configured to receive light emitted from the frontface of each light bar 62, 64, 66, 68 and to emit dark fieldillumination and bright field illumination.

The illuminator 10 of the barcode scanner 96 may further comprise thelight guiding device 14 arranged between the support frame 16 and theperipheral cover 12. The light guiding device 14 may comprise theplurality of slits 42, 44, 46, 48 arranged adjacent to the plurality oflight bars 62, 64, 66, 68. The slits 42, 44, 46, 48 may be configured toallow light to pass from the plurality of light bars 62, 64, 66, 68 tothe peripheral cover 12. The light guiding device 14 may be configuredto prevent light from passing directly from the plurality of pairs oflight sources 72, 74, 76, 78 to the peripheral cover 12.

The plurality of light bars may include first, second, third, and fourthlight bars 62, 64, 66, 68, and the support frame 16 of the illuminator10 may comprise a top panel 52 connected to the back face of the firstlight bar 62, a right panel 54 connected to the back face of the secondlight bar 64, a bottom panel 56 connected to the back face of the thirdlight bar 66, and a left panel 58 connected to the back face of thefourth light bar 68.

The pairs of light sources 72, 74, 76, 78 may be light emitting diodes(LEDs). Each light bar 62, 64, 66, 68 may include the plurality ofcylindrical light-reflecting elements 86A, 86B, 86C, 86D, 86E configuredto reflect light from the opposing ends of the respective light bar tothe front face of the respective light bar. The cylindricallight-reflecting elements 86 of each light bar may comprise cylindershaving different radii arranged on the back face of the respective lightbar or supported by the second substrate 84. According to someembodiments, the sensor of the barcode scanner 96 may be configured toread direct part marking (DPM) symbology on the surface of an object.

To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporatesentirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patentapplication publications, and patent applications:

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In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of theinvention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited tosuch exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes anyand all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Thefigures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawnto scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in ageneric and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An illuminator comprising: a support framearranged symmetrically around an optical axis of an optical sensor, thesupport frame comprising, a top panel, a right panel, a bottom panel,and a left panel arranged symmetrically around the optical axis; atleast one light bar connected to the support frame, each light barhaving two opposing ends, two opposing edges, a front face, and a backface; at least one light source connected to the support frame, eachlight source configured to direct light towards one of the opposing endsof one of the at least one light bar; and a peripheral cover configuredto receive light emitted from the front face of each light bar, theperipheral cover further configured to emit dark field illumination at alow incident angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the opticalaxis and to emit bright field illumination at a high incident angle withrespect to the plane perpendicular to the optical axis.
 2. Theilluminator of claim 1, further comprising a light guiding devicearranged between the support frame and the peripheral cover.
 3. Theilluminator of claim 2, wherein the light guiding device comprises aplurality of slits arranged adjacent to the at least one light bar, theslits configured to allow light to pass from the at least one light barto the peripheral cover.
 4. The illuminator of claim 2, wherein thelight guiding device is configured to prevent light from passingdirectly from the at least one light source to the peripheral cover. 5.The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the at least one light bar includesfour light bars, a first light bar connected to the top panel of thesupport frame, a second light bar connected to the right panel of thesupport frame, a third light bar connected to the bottom panel of thesupport frame, and a fourth light bar connected to the left panel of thesupport frame.
 6. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the at least onelight source includes two light sources associated with each light bar,a first light source configured to emit light towards a first end of therespective light bar and a second light source configured to emit lighttowards a second end of the respective light bar.
 7. The illuminator ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality oflight emitting diodes (LEDs).
 8. The illuminator of claim 1, whereineach of the at least one light bar includes a plurality of cylindricallight-reflecting elements configured to reflect light from the opposingends of the respective light bar to the front face of the respectivelight bar.
 9. The illuminator of claim 8, wherein the cylindricallight-reflecting elements are arranged on the back face of therespective light bar.
 10. The illuminator of claim 8, wherein thecylindrical light-reflecting elements comprise cylinders havingdifferent radii.
 11. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the opticalsensor is a barcode scanner.
 12. The illuminator of claim 11, whereinthe barcode scanner is configured to read direct part marking (DPM)symbology on a surface of an object.
 13. A barcode scanner comprising: asensor configured to read a barcode on a surface of an object, thesensor being defined by an optical axis; and an illuminator configuredto provide dark field illumination at a low incident angle with respectto a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the sensor and toprovide bright field illumination at a high incident angle with respectto the plane perpendicular to the optical axis; wherein the illuminatorcomprises: a support frame arranged symmetrically around the opticalaxis of the sensor; a plurality of light bars connected to the supportframe, each light bar having two opposing ends, two opposing edges, afront face, and a back face; a plurality of pairs of light sourcesconnected to the support frame, each pair of the plurality of pairs oflight sources configured to direct light towards opposing ends of arespective light bar; a peripheral cover configured to receive lightemitted from the front face of each light bar and to emit dark fieldillumination and bright field illumination; and a light guiding devicearranged between the support frame and the peripheral cover, wherein thelight guiding device comprises a plurality of slits arranged adjacent tothe plurality of light bars, the plurality of slits configured to allowlight to pass from the plurality of light bars to the peripheral cover.14. The barcode scanner of claim 13, wherein the light guiding device isconfigured to prevent light from passing directly from the plurality ofpairs of light sources to the peripheral cover.
 15. The barcode scannerof claim 13, wherein the plurality of light bars includes first, second,third, and fourth light bars, and wherein the support frame of theilluminator comprises a top panel connected to the back face of thefirst light bar, a right panel connected to the back face of the secondlight bar, a bottom panel connected to the back face of the third lightbar, and a left panel connected to the back face of the fourth lightbar.
 16. The barcode scanner of claim 13, wherein the light sources arelight emitting diodes (LEDs), and wherein each light bar includes aplurality of cylindrical light-reflecting elements configured to reflectlight from the opposing ends of the respective light bar to the frontface of the respective light bar.
 17. The barcode scanner of claim 16,wherein the cylindrical light-reflecting elements of each light barcomprise cylinders having different radii arranged on the back face ofthe respective light bar.
 18. The barcode scanner of claim 13, whereinthe sensor is configured to read direct part marking (DPM) symbology onthe surface of an object.